The roads to Ascension begin from the Dead River then roll out to Colonial Mendham. Climb E. Fox Chase, a precursor of what's yet to come... Up and up the road goes. The steep double hairpin of Drakestown comes at mile 24. It is fierce, unrelenting with a max incline of 20%. Undulating down into the Valley of 'Long' now from here the road heads upward. The pavement unfolds like a battlefield- The past grabbing at my heels, the ghosts of slain Norse and Saxon souls lay scattered along the side of the road... Right there, right at that exact moment, alone, I faced no greater uphill battle ever waged- with such harshness before. The Valley Sentry's warned me not to tread into the Hall of the Mountain King... A discerning man shields himself, against hill-top warriors and the demi-gods who protect their terrain, they declared. Yet, with sheer disregard, I carried upward and on. Traversing historic Schooleys, enduring pain pedal stroke after pedal stroke. And after a passage of time, behold those same past warriors- now lay witness to my short-lived triumph atop the glorious mountain... Alas, I have suffered greatly, from the battle of Schooleys. But I must carry on. Naughright stands, looming like a giant gladiator ready to slay my warring attack- He swings left and right, like a body-hammer, blow after blow, reigning down on my suffering soul. Over a mile long as I fight to gasp for every last breath of air... 44 down, 23 more draws nearer. The 'Ride to Victory' plays in my ear...Thrice, I've Summited: Drakestown, Schooleys and Naughright. Without reception nor fanfare of reaching the tops. But still I push on, homeward to bounties of food and 4 walls which will protect my eventual sleep- Weary and battle-torn- The Teutons and the Valley remain unbroken. Fore now I'll rest briefly, to fight and ride another day...